PLANTS SPECIES FOUND IN THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOREST THAT EXIST IN THE COUNCIL AREA

BTC is rich in flora and fauna with maximum biodiversity. The major Forest types here are:

1. East Himalayan Upper Bhabar Sal Forest
2. East Himalayan Lower Bhabar SalForest
3. Eastern Terrai Sal Forest
4. Eastern Heavy Alluvium Plain Sal Forest
5. Eastern Hill Sal Forest
6. Northern Secondary Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest
7. Evergreen Forest
8. Low Alluvial Savannah Woodland
9. Eastern Wet Alluvial Grassland (Terrai formation)
10. Riparian Fringing Forest
11. Khoir Sissoo Forests
12. Secondary Bamboo Brakes
13. Cane Brakes

Some of the above forest types are not prominent nowadays, due to heavy biotic interference and extensive damage caused to the forests.

Above forest types exist in the unique mosaic of forests in the Bodoland Territorial Council.

The edaphic character of forest areas in the Council is marked by presence of boulder deposits with low water table. The reserve forests are located on the plateau formation covered by alluvial deposits of varied mixture of pebble, sand, clay, and often with decomposed material. The major portion of the area, except for a very small fringe of southern extreme represents the typical 'Bhabar' formation.

1. East Himalayan Upper Bhabar Sal Forests (3C/C1b [i]) :- Sal (Shorea robusta), Sida (Lagerstroemia parviflora), Ajhar (Lagerstroemia speciosa), Bohera (Terminalia belerica), Ghogra/Makari Sal (Schima wallchii), Haldu (Adina cordifolia), Gia (Lannea coromandelica), Kum (Careya arberea), Koroi (Albizia procera), Odal (Sterculia villosa), Kanchan (Bauhinia spp), Simul (Bomax ceiba), Sonalu (Cassia fistula), etc. Other Shrubs and herbs spp. Are Dhupa Tita (Clerodendron spp.), Asugach (Morinda angustillia), Dhudhi (Holorhena antidysentriea), Narasinga (Murraya Koengii), Kaphaluaphul (Coffea bengalenfis), etc.

Among the climbers:- Bagh achora (Mellreurnum enellatum), Bandar kekowa (Mucuna rurita/Dysolobium grandis), Hatibandha lata (Milletia auriculata), Kuchia lata (Acacia pinnata), etc. Microstegium ciliatum, Pillinia ciliate are the grasses commonly found in this type of forest.

2. East Himalayan Lower Bhabar Sal Forest (3C/C1b [ii]):- Sal (Shorea robusta), Ghogra/Makari Sal (Schima wallichii), Sain (Terminalia tomentosa), Sida (Lagerstroemia parviflora), Ajhar (Laerstroemiaspeciosa), Bohera (Terminalia belerica), Simu} (Bombax ceiba), Kum(Coreya arborea), Koroi (Albizia procera), Kanchan (Bauhinia spp.), etc., arepresent. Shrubs and herbs spp. available are Akabbih (Clerodendron indicum), Dhopatita(Clerodendron infortunatum), Asugoch (Mdrinda angustifolia), Kanchan (Bauhiniavehlii, Bauhinia purpurea, etc.), Kamini Kanchan (Murraya exotica), Kaphaluaphul (Coffea bengalenfis) Jarmaniban (Eupatorium odoratum), etc.

Among the climbers :- Bagh Achora (Mellreunum enallatum), Bhedeli Iota (Paederia foetida), Ghila lata (Entada Phaseoloides/E. scandens), Hatibandha lota (Milletia auriculata), Kuchia lata (Aecacia pinnata), Keturi (Curcuma amarissima), etc. are available.
Among the grass spp. Bata or sungrass (Imperata aundinacea), Kush (Saccharum spontaneum), Saw grass (Pillinias ciliate), are prominent.

3. Eastern Terrai Sal Forest (3C/3Ic): - Prominent tree species are Sal (Shorea robusta), Tita sopa (Michellia champaca), Hingori (Castanopsis indica), Simul (Bombax ceiba), Bhelu (Tetramales nudiflora), Gamari (Gmelina arborea), Ajhar (Lagerstroemia speciosa), Bohera (Terminelia belerica), Makari Sal (Schima wallichii), Bogipoma (Chikrassiatabularis), Bola (Morus lavigata), Haldu (Adina cordifolia), Moj (Albizia lucida), Oxi (Dillenia pentagyna), Owtenga (Dellenia indica), Parali(Stereospermumacerifolium), Urium (Brischofia javanica) etc.

Shrubs and Herbs available are: Basak (Adhatoda vasica), Costus (Costus spp.), Kaupat (Phryrium indicum), Makhioti (Flemingia bracteata), Huin/Jari (Spilanthus acmela), Tora (Alpinia allughus), Jharmaniban (Eupatorium odoratum), Phutkala (Melastoma malabatrtcum), Keturi (Curcuma amarissina), etc. Among the climbers: Dhekia lata (Lygodiumjaponicum), Digili lata (Merrimia vitifolia), Ghila lata (Entada scandens), Bhedelilota (Paederiafoetida), Hatibanda lata (Milletia auriculata), etc. are available. There are many other plant spp; those commonly found in all types of forests above including orchids, ferns etc.

4. Easterft Heavy Alluvium Plain Sal Forest (3C/C 2d[iii]):- The dominant spp.: Sal (Shorea robusta), is followed by its associates like Sain (Terminalia tomentosa), Oxi (Dillenia pentagyna), Sida (Lagerstroemia parviflora), GhograiMakari Sal (Schima wallichii), Ajhar (Legerstroemia speciosa), Bohera (Terminalia belerica), etc., Gamari (Gmelina arborea).

Among the shrubs and herbs the spp. are Dudhi (Holorhena antidysentrica), Asugoch (Moringa angustiffolia) Dhopa tita (Clerondendron infortunatum), Akal bih (Clerondendron indium), Bhitatita (Solanum spp.) Narasingha (Murraya kaengii) Kaphaluaphul (Coffea bengalenfis), Jarmanibon (Eupatorium odoratum), Huin/Jari (Spilanthus acmela), Keturi (Curcuma amarissima) etc. Climbers, grasses, etc. are as in case of other Sal forest besides ferns epiphytes and parasites etc. are available, in plenty.

5. Eastern Hill Sal Forest (3C/C1a):- The dominant spp. are: Sal (Shorea robusta); it is associated with Makari sall/Ghogra (Schima wallichii), Kum (Karzea arborea), Parali (Stereospermum pers (Jnatum), Amlokhi (Embilca officinalis) etc. Kakobamboo (Dendrdocalamus hamitonii) is also found as middle storey. The under storey spp. are; Desmodium spp. Ulukher (Imperata cylindriea), Dudhi (Holorhena antidy sentrica), Narasingha (Murraya koengii) etc.: besides many other common herbs, shrubs, ferns and epiphytes like orchids etc.

6. Northern Secondary Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest (3C/C32S1]):- The prominent species found here are Bohera (Terminalia belerica), Parali (Sterospermum chelonoidesl Pterospermum personatum) Amari (Amoora wallichii), Bhelu (Tetramales nudiflora), Barhamt huri (Talauma hadgsonii), Jam (Syzigyum spp.) Sida (Lagerstroemia parviflora), Gohera (Premna bengalensis), Oxi (Dillenia pentagyna) Kum (Careya arborea) etc.

Shrubs spp. are:- Kamini kanchan (Murraya exotica), Kawla (Litsea spp.). Phutkala (Malastoma malabathricum), etc.
Herbs are :- Kathanaphul (Kukurmam ontana), Caronaria spp. etc.
Grasses :- mainly Bata or Sungrasses (Imperata arundinacea)
Climbers:- Bhedeli lata (Paederia foetida), Jarmani lata (Millenia seandens), etc.

7. Evergreen Forest (IB/C1 and 2B/C1]) :- The dominant species are. Bagipoma (Chikrasia tabularis), Bhelu (Tetramales nudiflora), Gonsoroi (Cinnamomum cicicodaphne), Badam (Mansonia dipikae), Bonsum (Phoebe goalparensis), Titasap (Michelia champaca), Lali (Amoora wallichii), Dhuna (Canarium resiniferum), Khakan (Duabanga sonnerotoides), Gamari (Gmelina arborea), etc. followed by Parali (Stereospermum personatum), Oxi (Dillenia pentagyna), Nahar (Mesua ferea), Cham (Artocarpus chaplasa), Barham thuri (Talauma hodgsonii), Larubandha (Macaranga
denti- culatus) etc.

Shrubs species are Kathanaphul (Moninda angustifolia), Kukurathengia (Leea spp.) Kawla (Litsea spp.) Chorat (Laportea crenulata), Tora (Alpinia allughus), Dhupatita, etc. (Clerodendron infortunatum), Kamini kanchan (Murraya I exotica), Narasingha (Murraya kaengii) Pipli (Piper longum), Basaka (Adotoda basica) etc.

Among grass spp. Khagori (Phragmites karka), Meghela (Saccharam procerum, Jharmani (Eupatorium odoratum) etc.

Climbers and epiphytes are found in plenty. Spp. found are Ghila lata (Entada scandens), Kuchia lata (Acacia pinnata) etc.

8. Low Alluvial Savannah Woodland (31S1) :- The main species are Bath or Sungrass (Imperata arundinacea), Kush (Saccharum spontaneum), Meghela (Sacharum arundinaceum), Nal (Arundo donax), Khagari (Phragmites Karka), Ekara (Erianthus ravanae), etc.

The tree species are scattered: they are Simul (Bombax ceiba), Koroi (Albiziaprocera), Amlakhi (Emblica officinalis), Oxi (Dillenia pentagyna), Palash (Butea monosperma), etc. Rare spp. like Reinwardtia indica, Desmodium motorum, Pueraria subspicata and Priden pilosa, etc. are also found especially in Manas National Park.

9. Eastern Wet Alluvium Grassland (Terrai formation ):- This type of forest is found in Manas National Park especially in poorly drained and low lying locations with little change of composition. The Grass spp, found are Kush (Saccharum spontaneum), Kahua (Saccharum procerum), Alpuda aristata, Khagari (Phragmites kiarka ), Ekara (Erianthus spp.), Eicchioria spp; Myupriodes species, Vessia species, Vessia species, Polygonum species etc.

Among tree species: Koroi (Albizia procera) Vrium (Bischofia javanica), Owtenga (Dillenia indica), Bhelkor (Trewia nudiflora), Simul (Bombax ceiba), etc. are found.

10. Riparian Fringing Forest (4E/RS1) :- The species found are Khoir (Acacia catechu), Simul (Bombax ceiba), Sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo), Koroi (Albizia procera), Ajhar (Lagerstroemia speciosa), Haldu (Terminalia myriocarpa), Uriam (Bischofia javanica), etc. In this type of forest grasses like Ulukher (Imperata cylindrical), Kush/Kahua (Saccharum spp.) etc. are also seen.

11. Khoir Sissoo Forest (5/1s2) :- Mainly Khoir (Acacia catechu) and Sissoo I (Dalbergia Sissoo) with other associates like Simul (Bombax ceiba), Koroi (Albizia procera), Kuhir (Bridela retusa), the undergrowth being Jharmani ban (Euratorium odoratum) and Thatch/Ulukher (Imperata Cylindrica) are found.

12. Secondary Bamboo Brakes (2/2s1) :- Sporadically found in Hill Sab type under Bahalpur Range to a very limited extent. The main species is Hill bamboo/Kako bamboo (Dendrocalamus hamiltonii), followed by Dolubans (Teinostachyum dulloca), Batibans (Dinochloa madellandii), Bojal (Psuedostachyum polymorphum), Jati (Bamboosa tulda), Wakhta (Bambussa pallida).

13. Cane Brakes (l/E1):- In evergreen patches in Chirang and other reserve forests, the canes are found along the nallahs, streams etc. to a limited extent. Spp. found are mainly Raidang (Calamus latifolius), Jati-bet (Calamus tennuis). Othercane species found in BTC area are Tita-bet (Calamaus tennuis), Lejai-bet (Calamus floribundus), Hauka-bet (Calamus lalifolia), Rangkoli-bet (Calamus loptospadix) etc.